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BOYS BASKETBALL: Bemidji's search for elusive first victory continues

BEMIDJI – For 13 minutes the Bemidji boys basketball team matched Moorhead basket-for-basket and possession-for-possession. The Jacks were down only 23-22 with 5:35 to play in the opening half and appeared ready to give the Spuds a run for their money.

With the help of three long-range buckets, however, Moorhead outscored BHS 19-6 the rest of the half and owned a 42-28 lead at the break.

The Lumberjacks never recovered from Moorhead’s spurt and the visitors eventually handed Bemidji an 87-60 loss.

“Moorhead was making all of its shots,” BHS coach Dan Ninham said. “We tried to pack it in defensively but they were swishing the 3s and they were swishing the shots from middle range.

“In the first 15 minutes we had people in the paint on both ends of the court and we stayed with Moorhead. But then we went away from that and it cost us.”

Among the Lumberjacks who worked the lane was Connor McNallan who returned to the lineup sporting a cast to protect his broken left hand.

The senior did well despite his handicap as he scored 13 points, including the game’s first two when he successfully one-handed a pair of free throws.

Moorhead took a 5-4 lead a minute into the action when Austin Nelson drained a 3-pointer and consecutive baskets by Aaron Lien upped Moorhead’s cushion to 9-4.

BHS battled back and was within 23-22 after Jeremiah Huseby’s inside basket but the Spuds countered with their late push and Bemidji couldn’t answer.

“The athleticism of the Spuds was a factor,” Ninham said. “Moorhead’s players are all 6-3 or 6-4 and we’re not. But those are the cards we are dealt with.

“We will keep working hard and we will continue to make progress. That will be a common theme for us this year.”

Bemidji, 0-10, will continue its quest for its first victory Tuesday when it hosts Thief River Falls.